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Investment Designed to Foster Growth, Preserves Core Values and Local
Leadership of Iconic Portland Brand

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Meriwether
Group, a business acceleration firm and trusted advisor, in
partnership with Cascadia
Capital, a diversified, boutique investment bank serving both
private and public growth companies around the globe, today announced it
provided strategic counsel to Portland, Ore.-based Dave’s
Killer Bread through its recent growth equity financing. The
investment was led by Goode
Partners (Goode), a private equity firm specializing in growth
investments in the branded consumer products sectors. Guided by the
experience of Meriwether and Cascadia, which work with top-tier Pacific
Northwest consumer brands, the investment will accelerate the expansion
and growth of Dave’s Killer Bread, while preserving its core values
around social responsibility and equal opportunity, and commitment to
its Portland roots.

“This transaction is a meaningful example of the opportunity that exists
for Pacific Northwest consumer brands to access growth capital from
outside the region, without requiring them to dilute or sacrifice their
local identity and foundational values”

“We sold the very first loaf of Dave’s Killer Bread at the Portland
Farmer’s Market seven years ago, and this community has supported us
ever since,” said Dave Dahl, co-founder and president of Dave’s Killer
Bread. “Every time we’ve brought our bread to a new store or a new
state, Portlanders have celebrated our success with us, and have
ultimately helped us to realize our vision of changing the world, one
loaf of bread at a time. Meriwether and Cascadia understand how
important our culture and values are to us, and helped find a partner
that will help preserve it as we continue to grow.”

Dave’s Killer Bread has grown into an immensely successful brand sold at
supermarkets in 11 western states including Oregon, Washington,
California and Colorado. The company also donates more than 325,000
loaves each year to organizations within the local Portland community,
including the Sunshine
Division, the Portland
Rescue Mission and Meals
on Wheels, and supports organizations that help transform people’s
lives, including Project Pooch and Living Yoga. In addition to its
charitable initiatives, Dave’s Killer Bread provides equal job
opportunities for former inmates, a cause close to Dave’s heart after
the nearly 15 years he spent in prison. According to the terms of the
investment from Goode, Dave’s Killer Bread will retain control over its
hiring practices – in addition to product development and philanthropic
efforts – enabling Dahl and the company to give others the same
opportunity for a new start that the business gave to him.

“Dave’s Killer Bread is one of Portland’s most beloved, iconic brands,
and is representative of a growing number of companies in the region
whose core identity is heavily tied to things like community and social,
economic and environmental responsibility,” said David Howitt, founder
and CEO of Meriwether Group. “The successful partnership between Goode
and Dave’s Killer Bread is an immense validation of the company’s
authentic, community-oriented business model, and will provide the
capital necessary to continue driving the company’s growth and success
for years to come.”

“This transaction is a meaningful example of the opportunity that exists
for Pacific Northwest consumer brands to access growth capital from
outside the region, without requiring them to dilute or sacrifice their
local identity and foundational values,” said Christian Schiller,
managing director of Cascadia Capital’s Middle Market Practice. “It also
showcases Cascadia’s deep understanding of the forces driving growth of
consumer brands in the Pacific Northwest, and our holistic approach to
investment banking that balances strong liquidity outcomes while also
preserving our clients’ core values and goals.”

The deal is the latest in a series of transactions guided by Meriwether
and Cascadia that demonstrate a commitment to bringing growth capital to
consumer brands in the region, while maintaining corporate culture and
local operations, including KLIM’s
acquisition by Polaris Industries and the management team buyout of
local restaurant chain Laughing
Planet.

Cascadia Capital is a diversified, boutique investment bank serving both
private and public growth companies around the globe. Cascadia’s
business is diversified in terms of the industries the firm covers –
Information Technology, Sustainable Industries and Middle Market – and
in terms of the range of advisory services it provides - Mergers and
Acquisitions, Corporate Financing and Strategic Advising. This
diversification provides the firm with stability amidst market
fluctuations. Cascadia is a pure advisory firm, and unlike other
investment banks, is not conflicted by trading, lending, research or
cross selling business. For over a decade, the firm has delivered the
best outcomes for clients based on its transaction experience, domain
expertise and commitment to building long-term relationships. Cascadia
always acts in the long-term interests of clients, and honors its
position as a trusted advisor. For more information, visit http://www.cascadiacapital.com.

About Meriwether Group

Meriwether Group, Inc. is a trusted advisor and business acceleration
firm headed by seasoned senior executives with decades of operational
experience with some of the world's most iconic brands, including Nike
and Adidas, who are also entrepreneurs and founders as well. Meriwether
has the unique capability of efficiently accelerating strategy and
outcomes for extension, licensing, distribution, and mergers and
acquisitions in a brand-centric and relevant way. Meriwether knows that
the heart and soul of any business is the founder's vision. The mission
of Meriwether Group is to look through the eyes of the founder(s) and
guide them to manifest the brand's destiny. Meriwether partners with
clients to define the optimal strategy for progressive growth through
brand management, market research, competitive landscape analysis, brand
and business valuation and acquisition strategy. For more information
visit http://www.meriwethergroup.com/.